Canon Rebel T3i / EOS 600D Review

Overall handling and operation

The 600D is essentially the same as the 550D in terms of control layout, which isn't a bad thing at all. The Rebel series' control layout has developed in an evolutionary manner, so presents very few surprises. It's not got a super-simplified first-time-user style interface of the style that's becoming popular in really low-end DSLRs and mirrorless cameras, but it's still clear and simple to use. It's a camera that will be straightforward for most people to use, and easy to get the most out of if you have any experience of DSLRs or enthusiast compacts.

Specific handling issues

In general, there's not a lot wrong with the 600D in practical use. Most of the key controls are well-placed, and the camera handles well for conventional eye-level shooting, although AF point selection is a little less straightforward than on cameras which use the 4-way controller directly. Also the exposure compensation button is perhaps a bit too close to the viewfinder for really comfortable use, especially if you wear glasses, but it's not troublingly bad.

Our only significant criticism, beyond these minor handling niggles, is the inconsistency of behavior between conventional shooting and live view / movie mode. Despite the cardinal points of the four-way controller being marked with specific functions, they are all given over to AF point positioning as soon as you engage live view, with their usual functions accessed via the Q button. We regularly found this inconsistency disconcerting; it's all too easy to find yourself inadvertently moving the AF point around when you really wanted to change drive mode, for example. This isn't disastrous but it can be unhelpful, particularly for people trying to learn the camera.

Not surprisingly a number of Canon's long-running interface flaws are still in evidence, too. Mirror lock-up is inconveniently buried in the custom function menu, and when enabled allows no quick method of switching back to normal shutter button behaviour. Why Canon can't simply implement it as a separate drive mode, perhaps as a mirror pre-fire when using the self timer like several competitors, remains a mystery.

The annoyingly long-winded method of setting a custom white balance remains too. The 600D requires you to take a shot of a white or grey card, designate it as a reference image, and then manually switch to the custom white balance setting (as the camera seems unable to comprehend that having selected the reference image, you probably want to use it). The more standard method of pointing the camera at the reference target and using it directly to set a Custom WB frankly makes much more sense.

The useful Highlight Tone Priority mode can be configured separately for stills and movie mode, but rather oddly appears in entirely different menu locations for each. In movie mode, it's a top-level item in the Shooting menu (which is exactly where it should be), but for stills it's hidden away in the custom functions. We find it hard to make sense of this - when the comparatively trivial 'Bass Boost' option that only affects in-camera video playback is made a top-level option, why is the same status not accorded to a feature that can profoundly affect the quality of your images?

Performance

Overall Performance

The 600D is reassuringly fast camera - it's unusual to find yourself waiting for it to react. Pressing the menu, Q.Menu or playback button results in a near-instant response and the behavior is similarly swift when shooting. Only in the transitions to and from live view is there really any lag during which the camera is inactive. In most situations the camera is fast enough that you don't notice it - which is the key measure of it being fast enough.

Continuous Shooting and Buffering

The continuous shooting rate of the 600D is one of the biggest distinctions between it and the more expensive 60D (along with its smaller viewfinder and single dial control, etc). It attains a respectable, though not exactly blistering 3.6 fps in all its image modes, but can maintain this for just three frames in raw + jpeg mode, and 6 frames in raw only. Because it takes 8 seconds to fully clear its buffer in these modes, it's not terribly useful for shooting short bursts of action, since there's every chance the camera won't have recovered by the time you need another handful of shots. If you find yourself trying to shoot sports or action, you may find yourself better-off taking a metering and WB test shot then shooting JPEG, which gives a much more respectable 40 frame buffer.

JPEG: 3.6 fps for around 40 frames, then around 2.7 fps. 4.5 seconds to recover.

RAW+JPEG 3.6 fps for 3 frames, then two slower frames followed by 0.5 fps. 8.5 seconds to recover.

All tests conducted with SanDisk Extreme Pro 45MB/s SDHC UHS-I card.

Autofocus speed / accuracy

In-line with the 'slightly revised 550D' theme of this camera, its AF system is essentially the same as the older model. This means it offers an eminently respectable 11-point AF system that performs quickly and reliably. It's not nearly as sophisticated as the AF systems in Canon's more expensive cameras, so don't expect it to track and shoot to the degree required for pro-sports shooting, but it's as easy to use and dependable as you could hope for of a camera at this level.

In live view 'Live Mode' the whole package is considerably less impressive - the accuracy is fine but focusing will regularly take 3-4 seconds. This not only rules out its use for moving subjects but, in doing so, also significantly undermines the usefulness of the articulated screen for hand-held stills shooting. Of course this also means that the 600D isn't very good at refocusing if your subject moves while you're recording a movie.

It's disappointing to see that Canon has made essentially no progress on this front, while other manufacturers have improved their SLR's live view AF considerably. Ultimately it means that the 600D's usability in Live View and for movie shooting is some way behind most of its competitors in this regard.

Comments

I bought my Canon T3i in 2011 and it still works great. Never had any problem and for an amateur photographer like me, it's more than enough to take high quality photos without any specific knowledge. I even take pictures for my business (http://www.trusera.com/) and it looks very professional. In my opinion, for an average user, this is one of the best choices.

The Canon EOS Rebel T3i is great. It has the ability to take excellent shots, you can learn alot about photography with it. And if you're new to photography it wouldn't be wise to invest in a higher-end expensive camera that you have no idea how to operate. Read the manual a couple of times and you'd be good to go, its not that difficult to use. Read more at http://certainclick.com/canon-eos-rebel-t3i/

I've had my t3i for about four months now and I find learning how to use it properly an enjoyable project. This camera can be as complex or as simple as one would like it to be, depending on one's interest.

I bought a 70-300 TeleZoom to add to the camera's flexibility and to be able to shoot wildlife.

So far, I have no regrets purchasing this camera and I can't imagine having any going forward.

I have had this camera for over 2 years. The video works very well for exposure, especially in difficult lighting areas. The problem is the focus is slow and hunts. It is best to use it in manual mode and with fairly fast lenses. This was an upgrade to EOS 350, but I only use 2 of the lenses I used before with the 600D - Canon EF 50mm 1.8 and Sigma 70-300 mm. Photos are good and the lens profile works well with the Canon lenses I have. Profile does not work with non-Canon lense like my sigma 17-70 2.8-4 and the 70-300mm. I have also bought a Canon 10-18mm wide angle lens to add to the 18-55 is and 55-250 is lens, plus the lenses mentioned earlier. I had to buy Nissin flashes as the Sigma 500 flash is not compatible, even after being sent to Sigma for a fix. The worst issue is the slow focus in live view. Fast lenses are better, but it is best to go manual or use the view finder. I was think of getting the 700D, but not sure if it is worth it, even with the upgrades.

Great camera for shooting still photos. The quality is superb and low-lighting is a breeze (as soon as you get used to working the correct settings).The main reason I chose the T3i was for the 1080p video is offers. The video quality is great, but there are a few things to be aware of.You'll want to get a memory card rated at a 10 for speed, and make sure it's a good-quality brand. If you scrimp on the card you'll forever be hitting yourself when the video recording repeatedly stops for no apparent reason. I have been through three cards that don't cut it (three different brands). Make sure you shell out the money for a quality card or you won't be able to record the data fast enough for 1080p (particularly in bright lighting or when you have a light source in the background--like a TV or lamp).Enjoy!

This is my first DSLR as well and I think it functions very well. I use the kit lens and additionally I bought a telephoto zoom lens 55 to 250mm (f4 to f5.6) and a prime 50mm (f1.8). The camera gives me reasonably sharp shots. It does not have as many focus points as a competitive Nikon D3200. I post process with Aperture and then the pictures look even better!

This is my first DSLR, coming from two previous Canon PowerShot cameras and a Minolta 35mm SLR. For my purposes (not professional) this camera has been outstanding. I mainly wanted a camera that allowed me to take better family and vacation photos and one that would allow me to learn about shooting manually. I also feel confident that lens purchases I make for this camera will be supported on better Canon cameras should I see the need for it in the future.

Even for an amateur camera very well. Of course, for a good job requires additional configuration. Plus, the lens plays an important role. That the work of the unit, I want to note the high processing shots. Good sharpness and color rendition. In general, a good camera. And not expensive!

This new piece of kit is very similar but quite a few dollars cheaper. The specs are similarly very close, with one exceptional difference: the new baby is 240 grams lighter in weight, made from stainless steel and polycarbonate resin with glass fibre. Which says a lot: pros like cameras with a dab of weight while the amateur fraternity goes kinky for models that don’t lower the shoulders.

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Just Posted: Studio Samples from the Canon Rebel T3i/EOS 600D and Pentax K-r. We're working away on a series of enthusiast-level DSLRs at the moment and have just finished processing the shots from our standard studio scene. Both cameras have been added to our comparison tool and can be accessed from all of our recent reviews. We've added a couple of comparison pages to our Rebel T3i / EOS 600D preview that pit the two cameras side-by-side and against two of their peers.

CP+ 2011: Canon has unveiled the Rebel T3i (EOS 600D) upper entry-level DSLR. It continues to use the 18MP CMOS sensor seen in the Rebel T2i (550D) but gains a tilt and swivel 1,040k dot LCD monitor like the one offered on the more expensive 60D. It also gains the ability to remotely control flashguns using its internal flash, a feature previously only featured on higher-end models. Alongside the camera, Canon is also launching the 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 IS II, a cosmetically revised version of its optically stabilized kit lens. We've had a chance to use pre-production versions of both and have prepared a Hands-On Preview of the EOS 600D including beta samples gallery.

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